After the Rain...

... A little tip for staying creative - take a notepad and pen with you, wherever you go (and a camera!). You never know when inspiration will strike! Make the most of any spare moments you have here and there, and get writing!!

I wrote this poem yesterday, when I was sitting in the car waiting to collect my daughter - who was also making the most of her creativity, by staying behind in the art-room for an extra two hours after school, to work on her latest work of art !

After the Rain

The world is a damp, dark place today.

A veil of mist smothers

Everything.

Erasing colour.

Pressing the 'pause' button

On life.

Life is now a slow-motion

Black and white

Film.

But in a little while,

After the rain,

Autumn leaves,

Like love,

Add a welcome splash

Of colour.

Creative Challenge # 1...

“Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes, and having fun.”  Mary Lou Cook

I'm passionate about creativity - whether it's writing, music, art - you name it - I love it.

So many people seem to lose touch with - or deny - their creative side, and to me this is so sad, because it is through our creativity that we express our true selves.

I really want to encourage people to rediscover and embrace their creativity, so I have decided to occasionally do a blog like this, setting a little challenge.

First of all, clear your mind of doubts and wories and negative 'self-talk' such as: 'I can't do it', etc. Let go of any criticism you've received in the past - whether it was from yourself or someone else. Remember, there is no right or wrong. This is simply an exercise for you to express your thoughts, ideas, imagination, or whatever else you want to express.

Start off by allowing yourself 5, 10 or 15 mins, but if you feel inspired, just go with the flow and take as long as you like.

Look at the photo below (you can click on it to enlarge it) and then write about it. Anything you like - a description, a poem, a stream of jumbled thoughts, invoked memories, a short story - whatever sparks your imagination. Or if it inspires you to paint, knit, go out for a walk, or anything else - just do it!!

Whatever you do, please share it either as a comment to this blog, or as a link to your blog. If you don't want to share what you wrote, that's fine - just a quick comment saying something like 'I wrote a couple of paragraphs' is fine.

Afterwards reflect on how you felt, being creative... if you feel like sharing this, I'd love to hear your feedback and comments ... whether it's something like 'I felt embarrassed / proud / surprised' or 'I didn't like the picture' or whatever else - I'd love to hear from you!

Remember - there are no rules, and there is no 'right' and no 'wrong'!

Enjoy!

Smiling at the Sun ...

I started off the day with another session at the allotment. After a couple of hours of pruning, trimming and generally tidying up, I rewarded myself with a little sit down for a while. It was so lovely to just sit down and feel the sun, and to absorb the sounds, the smells, and the tranquility. I feel so blessed to have my little patch of paradise. It seems to bring out my creative side too ... This is what I wrote today:

Smiling at the Sun

Bathed in golden sunlight

That warms my skin

And caresses my neck

I sit for a while

On the creaking bench

Watching ripples on the pond

And the dancing grass.

I marvel at the beauty of a ladybird

And a delicate flower.

I wonder how it is possible

To feel so much

Joy

So much

Love.

My heart will surely

Burst.

I feel glad to be

Alive.

So glad to be

Alive.

I smile

And I'm sure that

The sun

Smiles

Back.

I've been picking yet more apples!



Changing Seasons ...

I love this time of year - well I love every time of year - but I especially love the time of year when the seasons are changing - particularly winter turning into spring, or summer turning into autumn...

I've just been along to my allotment. I picked more apples, tomatoes and runner beans, did some tidying up, then just sat for a while, feeling the wind caressing my face, and watching the sun glint on the golden leaves ... then I wrote this:

Changing Seasons

Change is a coming

Whispering through the leaves

Promises of renewal

and fresh starts.

The nights are drawing in now

and there's a chill in the air

morning and night.

Thoughts turn inwards

As I retreat indoors

And become mesmerised by

Candle light once more.

Nourished by good food

And memories

And the promise of change.

And yet the same rythmns of life go on

Bringing comfort

Bringing hope

Bringing peace

As I welcome the new

Release the old

And embrace and rejoice

in what is ...



White Horses...

... I've just been for another walk by the sea - the waves are still thundering in my ears and I can still taste salt on my lips. Over the last few days the sea has been a writhing, gurgling monster topped with a seething mass of  foamy white tentacles... Yet at times it has also seemed elegant and inviting - pure white horses galloping atop turquoise waves that roll in and out with the tide... Rainbows have been dancing between clouds, playing hide and seek with the sun... It never ceases to amaze me how the seascape outside my window changes with every breath I take...

As I walked along watching the waves, I remembered a poem I wrote a few years back. I don't think I've put it in this blog before, although I'm sure I put it on 'myspace' quite some time ago... Having reread it, it could do with tweaking here and there, I think - but I thought I'd post it again anyway:

Stars and White Horses

Wild white horses

Gallop on the crest of the waves.

I long to ride bareback

Along the golden sand;

To the point where land

And sea

Merge

And become one.

To the point where

Mind, body and soul

Are one.

In a flurry of stamping feet

And tossing manes,

The horses rear up

And flick their tails.

And, in an instant,

They are gone.

But the roar of the sea

Goes on

And on.

The day slowly slips away

And changes into night.

The stars begin to blaze.

And, in a far away land,

A sleepy white horse

Stamps his foot;

and neighs.

and here is a little video I made - a bit wobbly and unprofessional, but never mind - I wanted to try and somehow capture the essence and feel of the sea. However, I have reached the conclusion that it is more or less impossible to capture the rawness and all that emotion in a photo or on film... You have to be there... Simple as that... and I'm so grateful that I am ... every day!

Renewal...

Renewal...

Peace runs through me

like a flowing river

of renewal and

rebirth.

Gentle ripples come and go

with every breath I take

in and

out.

Rising up from somewhere

so deep inside of me

it feels like it's been there

for ever...

Since the first dawn

of time.

Since the first sunrise

Since the wind's first

breath.

Soul deep

I feel the spark of life

that's been there

since spirit first rose from ashes

phoenix-like

Bringing renewal and rebirth.

Bringing peace.

Suicide...

Suicide. Just one word, but it says so much... Just hearing the word, just writing it, feels painful and conjures up so many emotions; so many  questions...

Yesterday, September 10th was World Suicide Prevention Day. People around the world showed their support by lighting a candle at 8pm. Today is a new day, but you can still show your support by lighting a candle at any time and spending a moment thinking of all those whose lives have been afftected by suicide...

You can make a difference in other ways too, and it can take as little as 5 minutes. By familiarising yourself with the warning signs that someone may be suicidal, you really can make a difference - and by talking about it it can help remove the taboo around suicide and mental health problems...

It's suprising how many people have been affected by suicide - whether they themselves have had suicidal thoughts, or they may have friends or family who have been suicidal or who have tragically taken their lives... 

Each year as many as 1,000,000 people are estimated to die by suicide across the globe; many, many more make nonfatal attempts. (The International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP).


Warning signs of suicide include the following:

Threatening to hurt or kill oneself

Looking for ways to kill oneself; seeking access to pills, weapons or other means

Talking or writing about death, dying, or suicide

Expressing hopelessness

Feeling worthless, feeling there's no reason for living, no sense of purpose in life

Feeling rage or anger, seeking revenge

Acting recklessly or engaging in risky activities, seemingly without thinking

Feeling trapped, like there is no way out

Increasing alcohol or drug use

Withdrawing from family, friends, or society

Experiencing anxiety or agitation, being unable to sleep or sleeping all the time

Undergoing dramatic changes in mood
____________________________

More info can be found here: http://survive.org.uk/suicide.html

Losing someone to suicide must surely be one of the hardest types of bereavement to deal with. It's vital to have support through the process of grieving and trying to come to terms with this tragedy... “More Than One Soul Dies In A Suicide”... Loss by suicide undoubedtly changes lifes for ever, but it is possible to find a way to move on and to find new meaning from life ...

“The most authentic thing about us is our capacity to create, to overcome, to endure, to transform, to love and to be greater than our suffering.”  Ben Okri

If you're feeling down, or are concerned about a friend or family member, please don't keep it to yourself. Talking really does help.

Never, never, never give up ~ Winston Churchill

-this is so true - never give up ... keep on trying ... remember that every day is a fresh start ...

Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says I'll try again tomorrow. ~ Mary Anne Radmacher

Do you need to talk? Appointments are available now - no waiting list

Morse Code...

Sighing

I dip my hand into the ocean's

wishing well

and ask for a glimpse of

heaven

rather than

hell.

Later

I gaze 

at the glowing light

shining steadily

throughout the night

and for a fleeting

moment

I see

a moonlit

morse code

message

blinking

at me:

'Have faith and accept that

what will be

will be.

What will be

will be.

A smile replaces

my sigh.

A smile replaces my sigh.

Time Will Tell....

Your arrival was like a tiny glimmer of
Hope

In a world turned sour.

Maybe you were sent to sweeten the bitterness and

Stop

the decay.

Almost like adding

sugar

to lemon juice.

You were sent to let the demons loose

And chase them

Away.

But what if they're here to stay?

Painful memories can't be brushed away

When foundations have been rocked

to the core.

It's sometimes easier to

walk away

And close the door...

Only time will tell...

Only time will tell.